MCW: Rookie of Year is goal of mine

Philadelphia 76ers' Michael Carter-Williams (1) tries to block a pass by Detroit Pistons' Brandon Jennings (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, March 29, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA ó After getting absorbed into the widespread arms of Nerlens Noel on the sideline, after bags of ice had been bandaged to his knees, after allowing the momentary euphoria to sweep over him, Michael Carter-Williams was reverential of the moment.

These days, itís not often that he and the 76ers stalk out of an arena with a win. So drinking in Saturdayís 123-98 decision over Detroit, the one that shut down a league-record-matching 26-game slide, was only natural.

Then, Carter-Williams was asked to think about something altogether different, something heís copped to thinking about once or twice prior: his Rookie of the Year candidacy.

ďI have. Itís only natural, just to be competitive and to work for something,Ē Carter-Williams said. ďI just, before the season started, set that as a goal of mine. I hope to achieve that goal. If Iím lucky enough to win it, Iíll be happy about it, but the long-term goal for me is I want to be great one day. I want to be a great point guard and lead the Sixers to the playoffs and, eventually, to a championship.Ē

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Against the Pistons, Carter-Williams had one of his finest efforts. He shot 6-for-14 from the floor to finish with 21 points, 17 of which were scored in a 70-point first half that set the tone for the upset. While his assist-to-turnover numbers were level, at four apiece, the 22-year-old added seven rebounds and four steals to help guide the Sixers to their first victory in 60 days.

Not a bad game for the kid.

Thereís reason to believe that bad habits could form for an impressionable rookie such as Carter-Williams, playing with the youngest team in NBA history, and for a club thatís lost three times as many games as itís won. Add to that the need for Carter-Williams to learn the tendencies and the sweet spots for teammates that shuffle in and out of the locker room regularly, and it would appear to be a recipe for the worse.

Carter-Williams doesnít think thatís be the case, nor is he allowing his ever-burgeoning Rookie of the Year odds to inflate his sense of self-worth.

ďItís been tough because Iíve had so many different teammates. Iíve played with so many different guys,Ē Carter-Williams said. ďItís great to have a guy like Thad, who Iíve been playing with the whole year. Iíve been playing with Henry a little while now, and Hollis. Itís great to have guys like that. And Tony, we know each other well. Elliotís been here a while. Itís good to have those guys to build some chemistry with.Ē